16: Vanity

In third grade, Jay Malone ran up to Bonnie, chanting, you have no alibi. Later, she missed her bus, staring at her reflection in the trophy case. Freshman mixer, some spiky-haired kid tapped her on the shoulder, then said, “Nevermind,” when she turned around. During slow songs, she studied her face floating over the row of bathroom sinks. At the cafe, Brandon Schuster hauled dish tubs for other girls, but never Bonnie. She watched herself move in the metal workings of the coffee machines. Whatever. It was like the tip jar, stuffed with dollar bills she’d have to split with everyone else.